BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING NEWS

Facebook buys virtual reality co. Oculus for $2B

NEW YORK – Facebook has agreed to buy Oculus for $2 billion, betting that its virtual reality technology may be a new way for people to communicate, learn or be entertained.

“This is a long-term bet on the future of computing,” said Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg Tuesday on a call with analysts. “I believe Oculus can be one of the platforms of the future.”

Irvine, Calif.-based Oculus VR Inc. makes the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset that’s received a lot of attention from video game developers, though it has yet to be released for consumers. The headsets cover a user’s eyes and create an immersive world that reacts to turning one’s head or moving back and forth.

Beyond games, Zuckerberg said virtual reality headsets might someday be used to enjoy a courtside seat at a basketball game, study in a classroom, consult with a doctor face-to-face or shop in a virtual store. The technology also has social applications, he said.

“Imagine sharing not just moments with friends online but entire experiences and adventures,” he said.

It is Facebook’s second big acquisition in as many months. Last month the social network announced that it would pay $19 billion for deal messaging startup WhatsApp, a deal that hasn’t closed. “I don’t think you should expect us to make multiple multibillion-dollar acquisitions within a couple months frequently,” Zuckerberg said.

But he called Oculus a “unique” company with a major lead on rivals in technology, engineering talent and developer interest. Sony Corp. unveiled its own prototype virtual reality headset at a game-developers conference in San Francisco last week.

Zuckerberg said virtual reality technology is a computing platform unto itself, comparing it to personal computers, which revolutionized the world in the 1970s and 1980s, and mobile phones. Facebook Inc. said Tuesday that the deal includes $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares worth about $1.6 billion. Oculus employees are also eligible for an additional $300 million if the company achieves certain targets.